Dainty folds of green with delicate downy fringes unfolding from its bud like a butterfly emerging.

With time on my hands during the London lockdown, I have watched the unfurling of the beech tree. From buds thickening, tips of leaves peaking out to showing off the sharply folded leave like a concertina in green.

The enforced calm is providing room to observe the small things that we often ignore amidst a life of distractions. Spring 2020 is more avidly observed and highly valued than usual. The normal progress of natural life is a comfort.

By now the concertinas have filled in and the young leaves turned smooth, but remain lime green. Click here for a circuit of the terrace from beech to beech.